Variable radix counter and programmable sequential timing device



g- 6, 1968 BIERMAN 3,396,250

VARIABLE RAD COUNTER AND PROGRAMMABLE SEQUENTIAL TIMING DEVICE Filed July 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4

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.4 r roams Y' United States Patent 3,396,250 VARIABLE RADIX COUNTER AND PROGRAM- MABLE SEQUENTIAL TIMING DEVICE Eugene Bierman, Pleasantville, N.Y., assignor of one-third to Mark T. Basseches, Pleasantville, N.Y. Filed July 11, 1966, Ser. No. 564,181 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-35) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A chain timer device requiring the use of only a single drive shaft, comprising first and second sprockets mount on the drive shaft, first and second chain flights driven by the sprockets, each chain flight including means for activating a switch during each complete cycle of a chain This invention relates to a timer device, and more particularly to a chain timer.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a multiple chain timer of unique design whereby timing functions heretofore requiring the most complex, cumbersome and expensive gearing, escapements and circuitry is performed by a simple, inexpensive and highly precise multiple chain unit.

The invention relates further to a timing device of the class described which may be readily adjusted to vary or program the timing cycle or cycles to be performed without the diflluclties which inhere in varying the cycles of timer devices heretofore known.

The invention further relates to a circuit controlling timer of the chain driven type which is inexpensive to manufacture, dependable in use and susceptible, with a minimum of moving parts, of performing in a precise fashion the most complex timing functions.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a multiple chain timer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a timer of the type described which may be programmed to perform a multiplicity of timing tasks, and then be readily reprogrammed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a timer device which is inexpensive, which includes a minimum of moving parts, and yet is capable of performing tasks which heretofore required a multiplicity of gears, escapements, drive mechanisms and the like.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly schematic, of a timer device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2A is a section taken on the line 2A2A of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 2B is a fragmentary section taken on the line 2B-2B of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a coincidence table showing the combinations and circuit closing coincidence available with the particular four chain timer device illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing one possible connection of the switches.

In accordance with the invention, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a drive shaft member extending from a Patented Aug. 6, 1968 ice rotating drive mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type, such as a constant speed synchronous motor, a clock motor or the like. As will be understood from the ensuing description, the shaft 10 may be either driven by a rotatating device of the constant speed type or of the type which advances by increments, the specific drive mechanism utilized forming no part of the present invention.

To the shaft 10, which is suitably supported in antifriction bearing means (not shown), there are mounted four spaced-apart sprocket members 11, 12, 13, 14. Over, each of the sprockets 11 to 14, there is disposed a chain flight comprising endless chain loops 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a the chain flights being meshed with the toothed peripheries of the sprockets 11 to 14, respectively.

While the illustrated embodiments contain a more or less schematic disclosure of a bead type chain, it will be readily recognized that other types of chains or chain equivalents, such as the ladder type, wherein a fixed mesh relation between chain and drive wheel may be preserved, may be substituted for the bead chain, the sprockets of course being varied in accordance with the nature of the chain used.

The chain flights are preferably maintained under tension by any suitable means, such as weighted idlers (not shown) so as to avoid any possibility of slippage with respect to the sprockets.

In the illustrated embodiment and for purposes of example only, the flight 11a comprises beads or links in total, comprising 99 heads 11b and one signal bead 11c; the flight 12a comprises 98 beads 12!) and one signal bead the flight 13a comprises 97 beads 13b and one signal bead 13c; and the flight 14a comprises 96 beads 11b and one signal bead 140. The signal beads 11c, 12c, 13c, 14c are differentiated from the ordinary beads or links by some sensible characteristic, such characteristics comprising the enlarged size of the signal beads as contrasted with the ordinary beads 11b, 12b, 13b and 14b.

Suspended adjacent the peripheries of the sprockets 11 to 14 is a switch carrier bar 15 on which are mounted the sensor members, such members, in the illustrated embodiment, comprising switches 11d, 12d, 13d and 14d, which switches are disposed in proximate spaced relation to the sprockets 11 to 14, respectively. The switches include movable contacts 16 and fixed contacts 17, the movable contacts being so spaced from the periphery of the sprockets as to permit the passage of the ordinary bead members, such as the bead 1112, without closing of the switches. As will be clearly understood from FIG- URE 2B, when an enlarged bead 11c passes beneath the switch member Did, the resilient contact 16 Will be shifted upwardly and closed for a period of time by temporary engagement with the fixed contact member 17.

While the illustrated embodiment indicates the contact closing mechanism as an enlarged bead pressing against a yieldable and movable switch element to provide a momentary dwell in the closed position of the switch, it will be readily understood that other signal means than an enlarged bead may be employed in con junction with other sensor elements than the mechanically closed switch members.

As examples of suitable substitutes there may be mentioned magnetic beads or links which cooperate with a magnetically deflectible reed or the like of a switching element; a radio-active bead with a radiation-responsive switch; a colored bead or link with a photo-electric circuit, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the sprocket members includes ten teeth so that with each complete revolution of the shaft 10, ten beads of each flight will be fed past the switching element. Thus, it will be seen that the linear speed of each chain is the same as the linear speed of every other chain. However, since the number of links in each chain fiight or loop differs from the number of links in every other chain flight or loop, the relative speed of any bead on a selected chain will differ from the relative speed of a given head on any other chain.

Otherwise put, despite the fact that the chains are being advanced at identical linear speeds, by reason of their disparate lengths, the time required for a given bead of each chain to make a complete circuit about the shaft will vary from the time required for a bead of any other chain to make the same circuit. As a result, during the operation of the device, the signal bead bearing the suffiX c of any shorter chain will constantly gain on the signal bead of every other chain of greater length. Moreover, the rate of gain of a given bead on a shorter chain to a given bead on a longer chain will be a function of the difference in length of the chains.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown one possible circuit utilizing the chain timer device. In accordance with the simple circuit shown in this figure, it will be seen that the switches 11d, 12d, 13d and 14d are connected in series with a motor M or any other device to be intermittently operated, and a power main, so that the motor M will be energized only when the switches are simultaneously closed. The fact that all of the switch closing beads are advancing at the same absolute speed prevents signal failures which might result if one of the two or more switch closers were advanced at a considerably greater rate than the others.

While the circuit in FIGURE 4 is greatly simplified and shows direct interposition of the switches in the power main circuit, it will ordinarily be preferable, in accordance with standard practice, to utilize a separate circuit actuated by the coincident closing of the switches to energize a duration switch which will cycle the motor or other apparatus for a predetermined desired length of time.

To start the apparatus, the bead chains are lifted from the sprockets and are adjusted so that the signal beads 11c, 12c, 13c and 14c are aligned in a position just past the circuit closing position, i.e. in the illustration of FIGURES 1, 2A and 2B just to the left of the switch members. The apparatus is then started and, in accordance with the circuit shown in FIGURE 4, the motor M will be energized only after the four signal beads simultaneously trip the four switches.

The chart, FIGURE 3, is a tabulation of the various combinations of coincidence which may be achieved with a four chain device disposed about a ten tooth sprocket, the chain flights incorporating a total, respectively, of 100, 99, 98 and 97 beads or links, one bead only of each such chain loop comprising a signal bead.

The number of possible combinations (C) available with any given chain system (presuming again one signal bead to each chain) may be determined by the formula:

wherein N is the number of chains employed.

Thus, referring to the chart which has been specifically correlated to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, we find that there are fifteen possible combinations (i.e. 2 to the fourth power minus 1).

Reading from left to right across the top line, there appear the numbers 2-3-1-4, referring to the possible different combinations of two chain coincidence, three chain coincidence, one chain activation and four chain coincidence, respectively. Reading downwardly along the left hand margin appear the numbers 100-99-98-97, referring to the total number of beads in the respective chains.

Beneath the number 97 in the left hand margin appears the legend Number of Revolutions of X bead loop for Coincidence. The number appearing in any of the columns to the right of the noted heading is an indication of the number of revolutions of the bead loop shown in parenthesis to achieve coincidence between the bead loops checked in the column vertically thereabove.

In the bottom left hand column, the legend appears Number of Revolutions of 10 Tooth Sprocket for Coincidence. As this legend indicates, the number appearing in each vertical column opposite the legend is an indication of the number of sprocket revolutions necessary to achieve coincidence when using the chains checked thereabove.

Referring now to the first vertical column in the chart wherein check marks appear opposite the numbers and 99, it will be observed that to obtain coincidence between the checked bead chains, ninety nine revolutions of the 100 bead chain are necessary (next to the bottom box), requiring nine hundred and ninety rotations of the shaft (bottom column).

As a further example, and looking now to the seventh vertical column from the left, it will be seen that to obtain coincidence between the 100, 99, and 98 bead chains will require four thousand eight hundred and fifty one revolutions of the 100 bead chain, requiring forty eight thousand, five hundred and ten shaft revolutions.

The coincidence tabulation for the circuit shown in FIGURE 4 appears on the coincidence tabulation chart, FIGURE 3 in the righthandmost vertical column, wherein it is seen that four hundred and seventy thousand, five hundred and forty seven revolutions of the 100 bead chain, requiring four million, seven hundred and five thousand, four hundred and seventy shaft revolutions must occur before a four chain coincidence will result.

Presum'ing that the shaft is revolving at one hundred revolutions per minute, it would take 784,245 hours, or approximately 32.67 days to achieve coincidence.

The numbers herein chosen have been specifically selected to illustrate the enormous range of timed relalationships and programming activities which may be achieved by the device of the present invention. For instance, assuming the sarne set of conditions and speed of rotation, and utilizing the 100 and 98 head chains, it will be seen that coincidence is achieved in this case once in every 4.9 minutes.

It should be understood that the timer device of the present invention may be utilized simultaneously to control fifteen independent circuits by proper selection of series connections utilizing the switches.

From the foregoing it will be seen that through the use of my timer device, a broad range of programmed cycles may be achieved in an apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to construct and which incorporates relatively few moving parts.

While the illustrated embodiment employs sprocket members, each of which embodies the same number of teeth, it is possible, without departing from the spirit of the invention, to vary the relative speed of the signal link of the chain by the expedient of varying the sprocket size.

Likewise, while the illustrated embodiment employs only a single signal bead on each chain, it is conceivable and, indeed, desirable in some instances to provide a plurality of signal beads on one or more of the chains.

Further, while the illustrated example of the invention shows a single switch operated by each chain, it is completely feasible, where complex programming is desired, to provide a plurality of switches operable associated with one or more of the chains. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for a chain of the ladder type wherein one switch actuating component may be disposed on one side of the chain and another switch actuating component on the other side.

An important feature of the invention lies in the ability of the device to be readily varied or programmed in its timing cycle to accommodate the device to substantially any desired function. The variation is effected simply by splitting the chain and reconnecting the same,

either adding or substracting links on one or more of the chains.

The ease of operation and the ability to incorporate small variations in cycle available in the device of the present invention should be contrasted with the difficulty of achieving a variation in a gear driven timer device wherein such variation may typically be accomplished only by physically substituting a gear having a dilferent ratio for an existing gear. As will be readily understood, a gear substitution involves complicating factors, such as relocation of the gear bearings due to the inherent diameter variation when employing gears of different ratios. Moreover, the quantum of variation which may be achieved by substituting different ratio gears normally does not permit small adjustments in cycle times, the adjustment being usually in the form of multiples only of existing ratios.

in the illustrated embodiment, as bead type chain has been shown without illustrating the general mechanism per se which permits additional links to be added or links removed. Numerous chain structures permitting this function are well known and, thus, the illustration of specific types of separable and reconnectible chains is considered unnecessary. The same is true of the ladder type chains and, hence, the terms chain and sprocket are to be broadly construed.

Numerous other variations may be made in the concept, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed within the scope of the appended claims to cover a multiple chain timer wherein timing is effected by coincidence of elements carried by the chains or like flexible loops positively driven by sprockets or their equivalents, which elements are moving at different relative speeds.

While numerous examples of specific applications timing devices in which the present chain timer may be applied will immediately occur to the skilled worker, there may 'be mentioned programming of laundry machines, dishwashers, or the like, where repetitive operations of different duration are involved, programming of molding presses, selective and intermittent lighting control of portions of buildings, etc.

Similarly, it will be understood that the term timer as used in this application should be broadly construed to include event counting devices wherein a discontinuous,

6 intermittent or variable angular rotation is applied to the input shaft.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A chain timer device comprising rotating shaft means, first and second sprocket means mounted on said shaft means, said sprocket means having the same number of teeth, first and second chain flights meshed with said first and second sprocket means respectively, said chain flights including a different number of links whereby said sprocket means and flights are so related that the shaft rotations required to drive one said chain through a complete revolution differ from the shaft revolutions required to drive said other chain through a complete revolution, at least one signal means on each said chain and sensory means for activating a circuit responsive to predetermined coincident orientation of said signal means of said first flight with respect to said signal means of said second flight.

2. A chain timer device comprising rotating shaft means, a first sprocket on said shaft means, first endless chain means in driving engagement with said first sprocket, second sprocket on said shaft means, second endless chain means in driving engagement with said second sprocket, said first chain means and first sprocket having a different ratio from said second chain means and second sprocket, whereby the shaft revolutions for driving said first chain means through a complete cycle about said shaft differ from the shaft revolutions necessary to drive said second chain means through a complete revolution about shaft at least one signal means on each said chain means, and sensor means for activating a circuit responsive to a predetermined coordinated orientation of said signal means of said first chain means with respect to said signal means of said second chain means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1936 W. K. Kearsely 20030 10/1954 Weber 200-153.19 X 

